seek

verb \ ˈsēk \

Updated on: 15 May 2018

Definition of seek

sought play \ˈsȯt\; seeking

transitive verb

1 : to resort to : go to

2 a : to go in search of : look for

b : to try to discover

3 : to ask for : request

seeks advice

4 : to try to acquire or gain : aim at

seek fame

5 : to make an attempt : try —used with to and an infinitive

governments … seek to keep the bulk of their people contented
—D. M. Potter

intransitive verb

1 : to make a search or inquiry

2 a : to be sought

b : to be lacking

in critical judgment … they were sadly to seek
—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

—

seeker

noun

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Examples of seek in a Sentence

The office is seeking a salesperson.
The prince is seeking a wife.
Snakes seek the sun to warm their bodies.
You should visit your doctor and seek his advice.
You should seek medical help immediately if you experience any chest pain or shortness of breath.
The church is seeking donations.
He sought revenge for his son's murder.
During the war, she sought asylum in Spain.
They sought refuge in Canada.
The company is seeking new ways to improve service.

Recent Examples of seek from the Web

But instead of seeking medical care, workers bound her wrists, ankles, biceps and waist with restraints to keep her from flailing.

— carol marbin miller and monique o. madan, miamiherald, "Behind lovely facade, allegations of slaps, bites, rapes, rats — and a horrific death | Miami Herald," 12 May 2018
Hard-line critics, however, accuse the House of Lords of seeking to sabotage Brexit, which a majority of its members did not support in the first place.

— stephen castle, New York Times, "Britain’s Lords Savage Brexit Plan, Enraging Euroskeptics," 11 May 2018
Mason, who held office until 2012, developed a reputation for seeking the death penalty in nearly every possible case.

— cory shaffer, cleveland.com, "Cleveland man imprisoned for woman's 2003 strangling charged in 1997 cold case strangling, rape," 11 May 2018
When term limits or other factors prevent an incumbent from seeking re-election, first-time candidates and political veterans alike tend to pounce.

— jeff mcdonald, sandiegouniontribune.com, "County supervisor District 4: Political newcomers challenge San Diego name brands," 11 May 2018
Assistant Public Defender Elizabeth Ramsey said prosecutor Andrew Slater informed her last week of the decision against seeking a death sentence.

— marc freeman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Broward man accused in father's slaying in Boca won't face death penalty," 11 May 2018
Their immoral compass has led to the potential blackballing of Kaepernick and Reid, whose moral compasses led them to risk sacrificing their careers for the cause of seeking justice for oppressed black and brown people.

— ameer hasan loggins, The Root, "The NFL Is Being Guided by an Immoral Compass," 10 May 2018
Blagojevich was banned from ever seeking state office again in the first formal forced removal of a governor from office in Illinois history.

— rick pearson, chicagotribune.com, "Illinois Senate President Cullerton called Missouri with advice about possible Greitens impeachment," 10 May 2018
Mayim Bialik has an important message for anyone struggling with mental health: Don’t give up on seeking help.

— aurelie corinthios, PEOPLE.com, "Mayim Bialik on Her Struggle with Depression and Seeking Help 'Like Your Life Depends on It'," 10 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'seek.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.